Materials And Methods For Inducing Apoptosis In Adipocytes

Abstract

The subject invention provides for materials and methods of using dietary calcium, calcium-containing products, dairy and antagonists of calcitrophic hormone activity for inducing apoptosis in adipocytes in order to reduce the number of adipocytes in an individual regulating body weight.

1 : A method comprising administering to an individual seeking to reduce adipocytes calcium from a calcium-containing product in an amount effective to induce apoptosis of adipocytes in the individual.  
   
   
       2 : The method of  claim 1  wherein the calcium from the calcium-containing product is administered as in an amount effective to block calcitrophic hormone (1,25-(OH) 2 -D) activity and induce apoptosis in adipocytes in an individual, thereby reducing the amount of adipocytes in said individual.  
   
   
       3 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 : The method of  claim 2 , wherein the administering decreases the levels of calcitrophic hormones in the adipocytes.  
   
   
       10 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inducing apoptosis comprises killing, depleting, destroying, exterminating, annihilating, eliminating excess of, reducing the number of, or increasing breakdown of fat cells.  
   
   
       11 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fat cells are truncal fat cells.  
   
   
       12 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the number of truncal fat cells is reduced by at least 10%.  
   
   
       13 - 48 . (canceled)  
   
   
       49 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calcium from the calcium-containing product modulates one or more of the functional groups of molecules involved in apoptosis.  
   
   
       50 : The method of  claim 49 , wherein the regulated molecule is selected from the caspases or the Bcl-2 family.  
   
   
       51 : The method of  claim 49 , wherein the regulated molecule is a protease.  
   
   
       52 : The method of  claim 51 , wherein the protease is selected from the group consisting of caspase-1, caspase-3 and caspase-9.  
   
   
       53 : The method of  claim 49 , wherein the molecule is a Ca 2+ -dependent endonuclease.  
   
   
       54 : The method of  claim 50 , wherein the Bcl-2 family protein maintains homeostatic concentration of [Ca 2+ ]i in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria.  
   
   
       55 : The method of  claim 50 , wherein the Bcl-2 family protein is BAX or BAK.  
   
   
       56 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calcium from the calcium-containing product blocks the inhibitory effect of 1α,25-(OH) 2 -D 3  on the expression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2).  
   
   
       57 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calcium from the calcium-containing product induces over-expression of UCP2 leading to marked reductions in mitochondrial potential (ΔΨ) and ATP production, increases in the expression of caspases, and decreases in Bcl-2/Bax expression ratio.  
   
   
       58 . (canceled)  
   
   
       59 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual is regulating body weight, inducing weight and/or fat loss, preventing weight and/or fat gain, and/or increasing the metabolic consumption of adipose tissue in the individual.  
   
   
       60 - 65 . (canceled)  
   
   
       66 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calcium-containing product is dietary calcium, calcium carbonate, a dairy product and/or a product derived from a dairy product.  
   
   
       67 . (canceled)  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calcium-containing product is a dairy product or derived from a dairy product.  
   
   
       69 : The method of  claim 68 , wherein the dairy product is milk, yogurt or cheese.  
   
   
       70 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calcium-containing product comprises a whey-derived protein product that is derived from milk, cream or cheese whey.  
   
   
       71 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calcium-containing product is milk or derived from milk.  
   
   
       72 : The method of  claim 71 , wherein the milk is skim milk, 1% milk, 2% milk, or whole milk.  
   
   
       73 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calcium-containing product is in the form of a powder, is incorporated into a nutritional or dietary composition or supplement or calcium fortified vitamin supplements, or is incorporated into a food product or foodstuff or is a food high in calcium.  
   
   
       74 - 75 . (canceled)  
   
   
       76 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calcium-containing product is added to a food product that is consumed by the individual.  
   
   
       77 : The method of  claim 76 , wherein the food product is a beverage or a liquid supplemented with calcium.  
   
   
       78 : The method of  claim 76 , wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of acidic juice beverages, acidic beverages, neutral pH beverages, nutritional supplement foodstuffs, confectionery products, dairy products, non-dairy products naturally high in calcium, food or food stuff fortified with calcium, bakery products and farinaceous products.  
   
   
       79 : The method of  claim 76 , wherein the food product is orange juice, apple juice, grape juice, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, blended juice, milk, soy milk, shake, smoothie, frappe, high-energy protein bar, high calcium chews, chewing gum, chocolate, or cookie, yogurt, frozen yogurt, cheese, processed cheese, bread, muffin, biscuit, cereal or roll.  
   
   
       80 . (canceled)  
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calcium-containing product is in the form of a tablet, capsule, or combination with other minerals and/or vitamins.  
   
   
       82 . (canceled)  
   
   
       83 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calcium-containing product is administered over a prolonged period of time of a continuous interval of at least about two weeks, one month, three months, six months or one year.  
   
   
       84 . (canceled)  
   
   
       85 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calcium-containing product is administered daily.  
   
   
       86 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of calcium-containing product effective to induce apoptosis in adipocytes is based on the amount of dietary calcium contained in said product.  
   
   
       87 : The method of  claim 86 , wherein the amount of dietary calcium effective to induce apoptosis in adipocytes is based on the amount of dietary calcium consumed on an average daily basis.  
   
   
       88 : The method of  claim 87 , wherein the average daily amount of consumed dietary calcium effective to induce apoptosis is at least about 500 mg, 600 mg, 700 mg, 800 mg, 900 mg, 1000 mg, 1100 mg, 1200 mg, 1300 mg, 1346 mg, 1400 mg, 1500 mg, 1600 mg, 1700 mg 1800 mg, 1900 mg or 2000 mg.  
   
   
       89 : The method of  claim 87 , wherein the calcium-containing product is administered over a continuous interval and contains at least about 1000 mg on an average daily basis.  
   
   
       90 - 94 . (canceled)  
   
   
       95 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual is on a calorie restricted diet.  
   
   
       96 : The method of  claim 86 , wherein an effective amount of calcium-containing dairy product is at least about 3 servings per day.  
   
   
       97 : The method of  claim 96 , wherein the daily serving is about 6 or 8 ounces of yogurt, 8 ounces of milk or 1.5 ounces of cheese.  
   
   
       98 - 100 . (canceled)  
   
   
       101 : The method of  claim 96 , wherein the serving portion comprises at least about 200, 300, 600, 900 or 1000 mg of dietary calcium.  
   
   
       102 - 105 . (canceled)  
   
   
       106 : The method of  claim 86 , wherein an effective amount of calcium-containing dairy product is least about 60, 90, 100 or 120 servings per month.  
   
   
       107 - 112 . (canceled)